Suffolk has declared a major incident as heavy rain continues to wreak havoc, causing severe flooding and dangerous driving conditions. Jon Lacey, Suffolk’s chief fire officer, has urged residents to limit their travel to only essential purposes, such as collecting children from school, accessing medical treatment, or returning home from work.

The aim of reducing non-essential travel is to ensure the safety of individuals and alleviate the pressure on emergency services. Authorities are closely monitoring the situation and taking necessary measures to manage the crisis.

In a recent briefing by Angus Council, it was revealed that evacuations are taking place in Monifieth, with affected individuals being relocated to a rest center in the Dundee area. The council has already rescued 60 households in Brechin during the early hours of the morning.

Presently, there are over 50 people seeking refuge at the Brechin rest center, while 17 and nine people have found shelter at Montrose and Forfar respectively. As the situation remains critical, a decision on involving the military for assistance will be jointly made by Angus Council, the government, and other relevant agencies.

Angus Council expressed deep sadness over the loss of a woman and a man within the flood-hit area, deeming it a tragic event. Storm Babet has been particularly devastating in Angus and Aberdeenshire, unleashing dangerous levels of flooding in these regions.

Graeme Dailly, Angus Council’s environment director, shared during an interview with Radio Scotland’s Lunchtime Live that three rest centres have been operational since yesterday. Speaking from the busiest rest center in Brechin, Dailly acknowledged the challenging circumstances faced by all involved.

With a new red weather warning set to begin at midnight, Dailly emphasised the importance of avoiding unnecessary travel unless absolutely essential. As the region battles against the impact of Storm Babet, the safety and well-being of residents remain the top priority.